Managing Election- Relation Violence for Democratic Stability in Ghana minimum thresholds of education and training for hiring news reporters. Local language stations in particular have a compelling need for training. It is not difficult to observe, for instance, that (local language) programme anchors are employed more on account of their language proficiency than any strong training/educational qualifications or professional journalistic credentials. The Poynter Institute has developed a three-point canon of journalism principles which is a useful guide in the coverage of political(and especially election) issues in Ghana:(1) seek the truth and report it as fully as possible;(2) act independently;(3) minimize harm(Black, Steele and Berney, 1993, p. 19). Close adherence to these principles should help overcome the concerns about misrepresentation, sensationalism and blatant partisanship. Second, while the constitutionally defined rights to media freedom may be considered inalienable,(self-)regulatory mechanisms are required to encourage the responsible exercise of those freedoms. As Fish(1994, p. 102) noted,'free speech... is not an independent value but a political prize'. This is the reason why hate speech, for instance, is universally repudiated. The relevant institutions(GJA, NMC, NCA, MFWA, National Peace Council) must actively engage the media in the search for common ground in terms of how much value to place on freedom of expression vis-à-vis the value Ghanaian society places on competing ideals and the heritage of cherished cultural norms. The parameters must then be operationalised through active, continuing sensitisation and education(and appropriate sanctions where necessary). In this regard, a useful guide for striking the delicate balance between freedom and regulation 107 would be John Stuart Mill's Harm Principle. 107 John S. Mill, On Liberty(Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Press, 1978), 9. The Harm Principle states that the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. 233